7 Apps to Increase Career and Job-Search Success

In today’s digital society, there’s an app to help you manage practically every aspect of your life, from your finances to your weight. Your professional life is no different. Whether you want to work more efficiently with a virtual team or job hunt on-the-go, there’s an app for that. Below are some of my favorite mobile apps that will help you be a more successful job seeker and productive, career-driven professional.

HopStop

Nothing’s worse than arriving late to an important meeting or interview. If you’re navigating a new city or trying to get across town during rush hour, arm yourself with HopStop. This free app provides travelers with door-to-door transit, walking, biking and taxi directions in more than 300 cities worldwide. Additionally, it will help you find the nearest subwaystations, estimate the travel time and cost for a taxi and provide real-time alerts and planned service changes.

Dropbox

Increasingly, professionals are taking their work home, often using multiple computers in the process. If you’re tired of emailing files to yourself, give Dropbox a try. This free app enables you to upload all of your photos, documents and videos from any device and share them easily with a customized link. This is especially useful when you’re working with a freelancer who may not have access to your company’s server or when your files are too large to be sent via email. As a job seeker, use Dropbox to upload your resume and other job application materials so you can quickly share them with a recruiter or networking connection anytime, anywhere.

Twitter

As I’ve mentioned before, Twitter is a great way for job seekers to discover new leads, research organizations and access career advice. If you’re not looking for a job, Twitter serves as a valuable networking tool. Use it to engage fellow attendees at an event by using the event’s hashtag. For instance, we use #JobMobile for our local events for recruiters. You can also use it to catch up on the latest news – it’s always easier to network with new people when you know what’s going on in the world. Check out this list of top 15 must-follow Twitter hashtags for job seekers.

HootSuite

Whether you’re managing your company’s social media channels or building a strong online brand for your job search or business, HootSuite can help. It allows you to monitor and manage your social media streams including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+. I love that I can schedule messages to be sent at specific times so if I’m stuck underground without Wi-Fi, my followers will still receive my career advice on a regular basis. The app is free, but you need to set up a HootSuite account first (free and pro plans available).

Evernote

Have you ever sat down for a meeting, only to realize you brought the wrong notebook? With Evernote, you don’t have to worry about that. You can capture all of your notes, images and audio files in one place and organize them into folders. Better yet, you can access these notes from practically every device, so you’ll always have the right information for your meeting. This app is also great for managing your career. Use it to build your brag sheet so you’re prepared to update your resume or prepare for salary negotiations with little notice.

Namerick

When you’re meeting new people while networking or interviewing, the last thing you want to do is forget someone’s name. Not only is it awkward, but it can harm a potentially value relationship. Prevent this with an app called Namerick ($0.99). Use it to quickly jot down a person’s name and notes about them, such as where you met, what they do and what they look like. Go a step further and put down any little details you learned about them during your conversation. Not only will this help you remember the person, but it will make following up and nurturing that connection much easier.

Amanda Augustine
is a well-recognized expert in all things related to career advancement: from identifying your dream job, to developing your professional brand, to acing your next interview. She is a job search and career consultant with a passion for helping people find the find the right job, sooner. Learn more at JobSearchAmanda.com.